Post-hole digger.



No. 634,902. Patented Uct. I7, |899.

C. L. MoNRoE.

POST HDLE BIGGER.

Application led July 2S, 1899.)

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iTnn STATES PATENT Leraren..

OHALMERS L. MONROE, OF GENEVA, EST VIRGINIA.

POST-HOLE DIGG ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 634,902, dated October17', 1899. Application filed July 28, 1899. Serial No. 725,416. (Nomodel.)

To all 'wh/0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHALMERS L. MONROE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Geneva, in the county of Roane and State of XVest Virginia,have invented a new and useful Post-Hole Digger, of which the following`is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in post-hole diggers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofthat class of posthole diggers employing two members carrying blades orshovels and adapted to be operated on soft ground with both blades orshovels working together and capable of being adjusted to extend one ofthe blades or shovels when it is desired to operate on hard or stonyground or remove roots.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple, inexpensive, andefcient means for locking the members in either position and forenabling them to be quickly adjusted from one position to the other;

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a post-hole diggerconstructed in accordance With this invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same, illustrating the manner of locking one of themembers in its extended position. Figs. and a are detail views of themembers. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same. Y

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all theiigures'of the drawings.

l and 2 designate two members pivoted together by a bolt 3orothersuitable fastening` device and carrying blades or shovels 4t and5, adapted to be readily driven into the soil and curved to form scoopsfor removing loose earth from a post-hole.

The bars or members l and 2 which are preferably composed of woodenhandles and metal shanks, are adapted to swing on the pivot to close theblades or shovels to cause the same to clamp the loose earth when it isdesired to remove the same from a post-hole. The curved shovels orblades, which are preferably constructed of steel, are suitably se curedto the lower or outer ends of the members, which are preferably enlargedto form heads.

The bar or member l is provided at its pivoted end With a longitudinalslot 6, receiving thepivot` 3 and adapted to permit the said bar ormember to be moved` longitudinally to extend the blade or shovel d to apoint beyond the blade or shovel 5, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of theaccompanying drawings, whereby the said blade or shovel 4 is adaptedtobe used independently of the other for operating on hard or stony soiland for cutting roots and the like. The members are locked in eitheradjustment by means of a lug 7, projecting from the inner face of themember 2 and adapted, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 of theaccompanying drawings, to .engage the shoulders formed by inner andouter recesses S and 9 of the member l. The member 2 is adapted to beswung on the pivot 3 to engage 'the lng with and disengage it from thesaid shoulders. The recess 9 forms a shoulder at its inner end, and therecess S, which extends across the member l, is narrow and forms a pairof shoulders to lock the lug against movement in either direction. lVhenthe lug is in engagement with the shoulders of the recesses, the membersare in alinement andare adapted to be grasped simultaneously by theoperator, so that there is no liability of the lug becoming accidentallydisengaged during the operation of the device.

The post-hole digger, which is adapted for operatin g on soft or hardground, may be used with the blades arranged as illustrated in Fig. l ofthe accompanying drawings, they being adapted when in such position foroperating in soft soil. The shovels or blades when in this position maybe used for removing loose earth from a post-hole, and by swinging thehandles or members slightly from each other the shovels or blades arebrought together and are caused to clamp and hold such loose earth. Whenit is desired to operate on hard soil having roots and stones, one ofthe members is extended beyond the other to' the position shown in Fig.5, and the blade t may then be used asa spade or as a cutting-blade orchopper.

It will be seen that the means for adjust- IOO ing the members and forlocking them in either position are exceedingly simple and that theyenable the adjustment to be quickly made Without withdrawing ormanipulating any fastening devices and by simply swinging the handlesapart and moving them longitudinally. I

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details ofconstruction Within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted ltoWithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof this invention.

What is claimed is- 1. A device of the class described comprising twomembers pivoted together, capable of a limited longitudinal movement oneach other and provided with blades, and means for detachablyinterlocking the members to hold them against such longitudinalmovement, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising two members carryingblades, one of the members being slotted, a pivot connecting the membersand arranged in the said slot, Wh ereby the members are capable of alimited longitudinal movement on each other, and means Afor holding themembers against such longitudinal movement, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

3. A device of the class described comprising two pivoted memberscapable of a limited longitudinal movement on each other and providedWith blades, one of the members being provided with recesses formingshoulders,and a lug carried by the other member and adapted to engagethe shoulders of the recesses t0 lock the members against longitudinalmovement on each other, said lng being arranged to be carried into andout of the recesses by the movement of the members on their pivot,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

CHALMERS L. MONROE.

\Vitnesses:

M. F. LEWELLEN, N. B. HOFF.

